Prayer of Faith

The heavens declare the glory of God…

Comet Mcnaught is the first comet I’ve ever seen in my life. It was bright and visible and a really beautiful sight here down under. The night sky here is really beautiful with all the hosts of heaven shining and shimmering like jewels. A pity I do not have much time to spend my nights out under the wonderful heavens. Just an hour or so out under God’s handiwork was all that was needed to put me in the correct perspective and be still and know that God, He is God.

As I train here and pray daily and earnestly committing this dream of being a fighter pilot unto God, I still sometimes wonder if it is God’s will for me to be in the fighters. No doubt that I’m absolutely confident and sure that God is able to bring it to pass for what is this as compared to the heavens and earth that He has created from naught. Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consists.” - Col 1:16-17

But are my prayers, prayers of little faith? What is a prayer of faith? I’ve often pondered over this. Is it just praying and believing that God is able to bring it to pass? Or is it praying and believing that God is able and will bring it to pass? So what exactly is a prayer of faith? What attitude of prayer should I be adopting? An attitude of prayer that has absolute confidence that God will bring it to pass? Or an attitude of prayer that has absolute confidence that God is able to bring it to pass if it’s according to His will? To be honest I do not have a sure answer, but this is what I’ve found after reading God’s word and some after thought.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” – Heb 11:1 (KJV)

“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” – Heb 11:1 (GNB)

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” – Matt 21:22

The verses above explain quite clearly what faith is. So in application, my hope is to be a fighter pilot. So having faith is to be assured and sure of this hope and to be certain that I’ll be a fighter pilot, which is something that is still not yet seen. The second verse in application would be that if I ask in prayer, believing that God bring to pass this dream, I’ll receive it. So all I have to do is pray and believe that God will bring it to pass and it is considered done. Is this right? Not quite I think.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” – Jam 4:3

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” – 1 Thess 4:3a

The first two verses must be read in context with the above verses and other verses in the bible that tells us about the will of God. If the motives for my prayer to be a fighter pilot are wrong, God would not bring it to pass. If I’m not asking according to the will of God, it would definitely not come to pass. Would being a fighter pilot make me more Christ-like or less? Does God have a purpose for me to be in the fighters? There are countless other questions that can be asked concerning whether this prayer of mine is according to the will of God but the above are just a few examples.

So what is a prayer of faith? – Is it just praying, believing that God is able to bring it to pass or is it praying, believing that God is able and will bring it to pass? I’m convinced that the answer is both. If God has unveiled His will so clearly to you, a prayer of faith would be the latter. But if you are still unclear and unsure of whether what you’ve asked for is God’s will, then a prayer of faith would be the former.

As for me, I wouldn’t say I’m 100% sure that it is God’s will for me to be a fighter pilot, but I’m quite confident that God will bring it to pass. As I ask God to daily show and unveil His will to me, my prayer of faith is slowly “evolving” from believing that God is able to bring it to pass to God is able and will bring it to pass. So how does God unveil His will? For me, it is through daily situations and circumstances, through His word and the reflection of God’s guidance and goodness in my life in time past. To each, if God intends His will to be made known, it would be clear beyond a shadow of a doubt.

My last thoughts… If any of us is unsure of what God’s will is for us concerning a certain matter. Let us not stop at just praying, believing that God is able to bring it to pass, but continue in prayer, asking God to guide us each step of the way and show to us His will concerning the matter that we’re praying for. And of course, even before we can pray a prayer of faith, we must first be still and know that God, He is God; The Creator of the universe, who is clothe in majesty; The only true and living God. And nothing is too hard for the Lord.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Heb 11:6

All Glory to The Lord Most High!